The weekly messenger., 1887-07-02
THE MERMAN.

Last summer l passed some weeks in
Mulangen, Norway, laid up with a
spraincd ankle. One evening iny farmer
host. Bernt Olaifscn, told me the follow
ing story. | believed it; so would YOU
if you had heard him tell it.
was left an orphan when about eight
years old, and went to live with my
cousin Karen, who had been a servant in
the family ot the minister at Al,tadt, but
who then lived at kralhoim. in Welgc-
land, having some months before married
Elias, fisherman of that place. Kral-
holm, for some reason has ever been the
haunt oil ghosts, mcrmen and all wicked
spirits of the sea. IL took Karen and me
a long to become accustomed to the
strange sights and sounds of the lonely
beach where her cottage stood.
Her husband, a CHEEKY, hearty man.
laughed at our fears, assuring us that the
sea spirits had no power over those who
LED godly lives and who avoided all
dealings with them; so when six years
had passed away, bringing with them
children and all other blessings, Karen's
Tears mad long since been forgotten. Then
suddenly Elias seemed to change. He
became gloomy and silent. He was. as
ever, KIND and good, but his Jokes and
laughter were no longer heard. This
was very strange, and, stranger still, he
suddenly stopped all talk about the new
ten-oarsd boat he had meant to buy, to
take the place of of the old ''six-oar,r -
almost worn out with long service. That
new ''ten-oar" had been the theme of
many tircside talk, for it was to be the
finest on kralholm beach. bot now for
two years we heard nothing about it.
Karen was, OF course, very anxious, and
at last l, having grown TO lie stout
lad OF sixteen ventured to question him
PLAINLY, Karen joined me, and at last
he spoke out.
One day, two years before. he was
walking on an unfreGucntcd part of the
beach, armed with his fish spear, and
came suddenly upon huge seal. lying
asleep upon rock. 1t was the largest
he had ever seen, but, strange to saw. he
felt afraid of it, and wished to run away.
l say strange, for no one ever fears a
seal, and the larger it is the better the
prize.
Elias mustered up his courage, crept
close to the sleeping monster, and drove
the spear deep into its back. With a
frightful yell of rage and pain, such as
no true seal ever uttered, the brute raised
fself, wrenching the staff out of the
nshermans hands. II stood erect, SEEM
Ing to grow as tall as boats mast.
Screaming and gnashing its teeth. it
glared at Elias with fierce, bloodshot
eyes, while he, half-dead with fear, could
not murmur prayer With one final
below it plunged into the sea, carving
with 1t the harpoon, and discolorinr the
water with blood. Elias did not speak
of this incident to any one. He was in
truth, ashamed. He had been frightened
by a seal; had missed his blow, and lost
not only his prize, but his harpoon az
well. He would be laughed at. After
ward he found floating the staff of his
spear, the iron having been broken off.
one night, shortly after this, he heard
great noise in the boat house. He i'm
medlatey rose and went TO see if any
mischief were on foot. Ii was midnight.
stormy and very dark. Entering the boat
house he heard no sound. and at first
Could see nothing. Suddenly the light
OF his lantern fell upon huge black mass,
from which rose grinning and snarling
the fierce head of II monster seal. He re-
membcred II well, and while he stood.
terror->tricken, the head grew human,
the seal disappeared, and in its place was
large man. entirely naked, who rushed
PasVElias, striking the lantern from his
ha2d, but not so quickly that the poor